PM Modi releases Tamil classic 'Thirukkural' in Tok Pisin language of Papua New Guinea

The Tamil classic 'Thirukkural' has been translated to Papua New Guinea's official language Tok Pisin by Subha Sasindran and Governor Sasindran Muthuvel of West New Britain Province.

Port Moresby: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday released the Tamil classic 'Thirukkural' in the Tok Pisin language, aimed at bringing the Indian thought and culture closer to the people of the southwestern Pacific nation. He released the book along with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape.

Modi who arrived here on Sunday on his maiden visit to Papua New Guinea has become the first Indian PM to visit the country. PM Modi co-hosted with Marape a key summit between India and 14 Pacific island countries to boost bilateral ties. The Papua New Guinea PM touched PM Modi's feet on the latter's arrival to the island nation.

Tok Pisin is the official language of Papua New Guinea. The Tamil classic was translated by Subha Sasindran and Governor Sasindran Muthuvel of West New Britain Province. "Indian diaspora keeping alive connect with the motherland! PM@narendramodi & PM James Marape launched a translation of the Tamil classic Thirukkural' in the Tok Pisin language of Papua New Guinea," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted. The book brings Indian thought and culture closer to the people of Papua New Guinea, the MEA claimed.

"In Papua New Guinea, PM James Marape and I had the honour of releasing the Thirukkural in Tok Pisin language. Thirukkural is an iconic work, which provides valuable insights across different subjects," Prime Minister Modi tweeted sharing the image from the book launch. He also shared a video of his interaction with the authors of the book.

"I would like to commend @pngsasi, Governor of the West New Britain Province and Mrs. Subha Sasindran for their effort to translate the Thirukkural in Tok Pisin. Governor Sasindran has done his schooling in Tamil while Mrs. Subha Sasindran is a respected linguist," PM Modi said in a separate tweet.

The Tamil classic 'Thirukkural' is a collection of couplets and is praised for its universality on ethics, political and economic matters, and love. It was written by Poet Thiruvalluvar.